PLAN Type 051B/C Class Destroyers

MwRYum

MwRYum

Major
Jeff Head said:
...and here's how she is going to look with the new CIWS, the new VLS, and the new main gun:

View attachment 23225

Very nice upgrade.
Click to expand...
Accurate rendering there, except for the "B" gun station, where the whole HQ7 and reload magazine position, now has been removed. The way they painted the superstructure now indicates that's have it will look like - there will be no more elevated platform. Now, the questions would be:

1. will the HQ-16 VLS wells be flushed with the deck or slightly elevated?
2. how many wells it will hold?

Now, I wonder why they'd remove that portion of the structure? Won't that provide room for the VLS wells, alas with some modifcations? Or the HQ-16 VLS wells don't need that much room to install?
 
J

joshuatree

Captain
MwRYum said:
Now, I wonder why they'd remove that portion of the structure? Won't that provide room for the VLS wells, alas with some modifcations? Or the HQ-16 VLS wells don't need that much room to install?
Click to expand...

Keeping that portion of the structure may have provided more height for a deeper VLS system but I suspect it limited the number of cells since the hatches need clearance for opening and closing. By keeping the VLS at or near deck level, there is the entire deck space available for the VLS hatches to open and close. It seems the refit is giving 167 a second life as a larger frigate rather than a small destroyer.

I wonder if they ever upgraded the propulsion on 167. Hopefully they are able to automate more items below deck to reduce crew size.
 
MwRYum

MwRYum

Major
joshuatree said:
Keeping that portion of the structure may have provided more height for a deeper VLS system but I suspect it limited the number of cells since the hatches need clearance for opening and closing. By keeping the VLS at or near deck level, there is the entire deck space available for the VLS hatches to open and close. It seems the refit is giving 167 a second life as a larger frigate rather than a small destroyer.

I wonder if they ever upgraded the propulsion on 167. Hopefully they are able to automate more items below deck to reduce crew size.
Click to expand...
In any case, the DDG-167 finally got the VLS, after almost 15 years since it entered into service. Given its age and designs, it'd never serve in the primary battlegroup (carrier battle group, or the like) but rather the 2nd-line surface action group flagship; share components with the 054A it will no doubt simply the supply chain, as the 053 series are gradually phasing out, thus no more purpose to keep the HQ7.
 
tphuang

tphuang

Lieutenant General
Staff member
Super Moderator
VIP Professional
Registered Member
joshuatree said:
Keeping that portion of the structure may have provided more height for a deeper VLS system but I suspect it limited the number of cells since the hatches need clearance for opening and closing. By keeping the VLS at or near deck level, there is the entire deck space available for the VLS hatches to open and close. It seems the refit is giving 167 a second life as a larger frigate rather than a small destroyer.

I wonder if they ever upgraded the propulsion on 167. Hopefully they are able to automate more items below deck to reduce crew size.
Click to expand...
it didn't look like they took out the propulsion like they did with 052A.
 
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